UPDATED: Harpo’s FC and the KC Athletics have been confirmed as the other Preliminary Round match
The 102nd Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off at the end of April, but TheCup.us has learned the two Preliminary Round matchups for the upcoming tournament. US Club Soccer tournament champion San Francisco City FC has confirmed they will face the United States Adult Soccer Association’s (USASA) Cal FC, which made a name for itself with a Cinderella run in the 2012 US Open Cup. Meanwhile, the round’s other contest will feature a rematch from last weekend’s United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) tournament between Harpo’s FC and the Kansas City Athletics.
San Francisco City, who recently tweeted that they are in talks with the North American Soccer League about possibly becoming an expansion franchise, are attempting to become the first US Club Soccer team to win a game in the US Open Cup. They are also attempting to end a drought for their city as they are the first team from San Francisco to take part in the Open Cup since the California Victory (USL-1, 2nd Division) won a pair of games before falling the Colorado Rapids (MLS) in 2007. They are the first amateur club from the city to play in the US Open Cup in the modern era (1995-present).
We can confirm that we have made initial contact to NASL regarding potential expansion. — SF City FC (@SFCityFC) March 18, 2015
Cal FC was introduced to the American soccer world in 2012 when they won three straight road games including an upset of USL PRO’s Wilmington Hammerheads and a stunning 1-0 extra time win over Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers. Their run would end with a 5-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders in the Fourth Round. After falling short in 2013 qualifying, they returned to the tournament last year but suffered a 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy II (USL PRO) in their opening game.
According to USSF’s announcement in February, the other Preliminary Round game will feature the USSSA representative against the nearest USASA club. Harpo’s FC (Boulder, Colo.) will represent the USSSA after finishing as the runner-up in last weekend’s Open Cup qualifying tournament, having lost to the Kansas City Athletics in the final. Since the Athletics qualified for the 2015 US Open Cup through the USASA’s Region II, Harpo’s FC will make their first trip to the tournament.
However, since the Athletics are the closest USASA team from Boulder, Colo., we will see a rematch in the Preliminary Round. Kansas City confirmed that the two teams will play for the third time this year. The two split a pair of USSSA games with Harpo’s beating KC 4-1 in group play, and the Athletics getting revenge in the championship game, winning 3-1.
This is just the third year that the USSSA has taken part in the US Open Cup. The last two years, the Colorado Rovers represented the league, losing in a penalty kick shootout to the Georgia Revolution (NPSL) in 2013 and falling 2-1 to the USASA’s Red Force a year ago.
The dates and venues for the Preliminary Round games have yet to be determined.
Elsewhere …
The National Premier Soccer League has finally confirmed their final three entries for the 2015 US Open Cup: Fort Pitt Regiment, Virginia Beach City FC and Detroit City FC. More details to come.